Many cases of stomach difficulty are due to the condition of the nerves.
Nervous Indigestion is due to the general nerve condition. In such cases the entire nervous system should be regulated through exercise, breathing, relaxation and a change of thought. Physicians usually recommend change of scene to direct change of thought.
The diet should be light and laxative and low in protein. Cream soup, bread and milk, crackers and milk, custards, egg lemonade, and gruels, furnish an easily digested list. No tea, coffee, very little meat and no fried food. Where the walls of the stomach are weak and distended, light food six times a day is preferable to a hearty meal, which distends the stomach walls.
Where a loss of weight occurs, it usually indicates a failure to assimilate a sufficient amount of food, rather than a failure to eat sufficient. A good circulation, particularly through the vital organs, deep full breathing of fresh air, and regular and complete rest periods, should be observed. Usually a dietitian, or a physician, is not called in chronic cases until the condition has prevailed for so long that other complications have set in and the patient has lost much flesh. It takes months to pull the system down and it takes months of following of proper hygiene to build it up.
Gastritis or Catarrh of the Stomach involving an inflammation of the mucous lining of the stomach, is a most common phase of indigestion. In acute cases the physician is called at once. He can treat the case in its initial stages and bring about a much more rapid recovery.
Acute Gastritis is accompanied by nausea and vomiting and the patient should rest from all food and drink for two days. If the mouth is dry, water or ice may be given frequently and held in the mouth, but not swallowed.
After two days rest, begin the nourishment with water and a small portion of liquid food (not over two ounces) every two hours. Toast tea, made by pouring hot water over toast, oatmeal, or barley gruel (thoroughly strained so that no coarse matter may irritate the stomach), limewater and milk, and egg lemonade are easily digested foods to begin to eat. Increase the quantity the fourth day and lengthen the time between feedings to three hours. Gradually increase the diet by semi-liquid food, soft boiled eggs, moistened toast, raw oysters, etc., slowly returning to the regular bill of fare.